An Empirical Test of the Relationship between Isolation and Disengagement of Elderly Persons

Abstract

While the constructs of isolation and disengagement of elderly persons from society are not new, they are generally considered as independent and competing views. In this research was studied the relationship between isolation and disengagement of 365 urban elderly persons, using measures developed for survey research applications. The findings suggest isolation does occur among elderly persons but that the concomitant disengagement is voluntary rather than involuntary.